Diaz/Condit fallout, Koscheck details reasons for leaving AKA

– Plenty of controversy still circulating regarding Saturday night’s Diaz vs. Condit decision. For the record, I had the bout scored three rounds to two in favor of Carlos Condit. Yes, Condit moved away from Diaz for a lot of the fight, but that limited viewpoint is negated due to Condit actually outstriking Diaz in every round but one. Condit’s game plan was the perfect one you need to beat Nick Diaz – move away, don’t let yourself get caught up against the cage, because that’s where Diaz is most effective. Condit continually reset the fight in the center of the cage, but he also used highly effective counterstriking while doing so. In short, it wasn’t the fight we thought we would get, but it was an effective fight, and Condit deserves the interim title he now holds.

– Condit’s manager Malki Kawa said today that they do not plan on accepting a rematch with Diaz should it be offered and said they would prefer to wait for Georges St-Pierre’s return. But St-Pierre likely won’t be back until November, which means Condit will likely end up having to fight one more time before he can face the welterweight champion. I think you’ll ultimately see the winner of next week’s Fuel TV main event between Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger get the next crack at Condit. I also believe we’ll see Diaz return this summer and face Josh Koscheck.

– St-Pierre opened as a 3 to 1 favorite over Condit.

– Kosheck today detailed his reasons for leaving AKA in San Jose, placing the blame entirely on AKA founder Javier Mendez. Koscheck said he was tired of Mendez refusing to take blame when his fighters lost. Koscheck will train at one of his two gyms in Fresno. The gyms are affiliated with AKA, but the names will likely change down the road.

– UFC 143 pulled 10,040 attendees for a $2.3 million live gate.

– The long-anticipated rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen has been verbally agreed to. It’ll take place in June in Brazil in one of the soccer stadiums in Sao Paolo.

– Nick Diaz was the top earner at UFC 143 with a $200,000 salary. He’ll likely earn far more due to pay per view points. Josh Koscheck earned $146,000 to come in second on the list of earners. Carlos Condit made $55,000 to show and $55,000 for his win.

– Fifteen fighters were suspended following UFC 143. Fabricio Werdum, Clifford Starks, Ed Herman, Edwin Figueroa, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez and Michael Kuiper could all be out of action for up to six months. Condit is out for three months.

– Alex Caceres told Sherdog today that he believed Edwin Figueroa was “milking” the low blows during their UFC 143 fight. I’d have to agree with him on the second one, but the first sounded like a killer.

– Brandon Vera is out of his May rematch with Thiago Silva. Vera accepted the fight before talking with his doctors. When he finally talked with the doc, he was told that he’s nowhere near ready to return from an injury suffered in the fall.

– Cain Velasquez is planning for a May return to the cage. Don’t know who his opponent will be, but it’s not going to be Antonio Silva as previously rumored.

– Robert Peralta suffered an injury and is out of his UFC on FX 2 bout with Mackens Semerzier. Taking his place is Houston’s own Daniel Pineda, who scored a win in his UFC debut two weeks ago.

– Pascal Krauss vs. John Hathaway was added to UFC on FOX 3.

– India will likely be the next target for a country-specific version of The Ultimate Fighter.

– The UFC today reserved the MGM Grand for events on May 26 and July 7. The July show will be held in conjunction with a UFC Fan Expo at Mandalay Bay. One of these two shows will likely be headlined by Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem.

– T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson was added to the television broadcast for the Feb. 15 Fuel TV event.

– The UFC’s new magazine show “Ultimate Insider” debuts tomorrow night on Fuel TV. It’s hosted by Jon Anik. The first episode airs at 10:30 p.m. ET and will have features on Dana White, Jon Jones and Dan Henderson.